Zona de Desconforto

ZONA DE DESCONFORTO With this collection of travel books, addressed ‘ to those who enjoy travelling without catch transport and spend money! already counted as was a punk tour-butwith-books of six creative for a “Europe upset” and the six months of David fields in Guinea-Bissau. This time we almost everywhere without preparing an adventure ...

What do you mean?

Many Portuguese have gone to study abroad thanks to university programs or other institutional scholarships. Others have gone out to work or because they can’t find stimuli for their creativity in a peripheral country and late as our, or because they had to seek employment to survive giving reason a politician son of a bitch who claimed in the media that “the best Portuguese young people had to do was to emigrate “. What could be an abstraction or a bizarre demagoguery has become reality.

Many of the rest of us, I feel, a lot of our friends and acquaintances “disappeared” and we know that not everyone will be back to this corner of Europe.

In this anthology, our comic authors report their experiences as students or workers abroad exposing their extremes, the slight joke of culture shock to deep and intimate reflections. If the force working on the issues of the autobiography, we guarantee however, that the personal style of each author in nothing was harmed.

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Tourists are fond of observing all the Londoner cliches such as the London Bridge, the Tower of London with its “beefeaters” and the crows, the New Globe – the theatre where were performed Shakespeare’s plays...

For example, the steering wheel on the right side of the car...

The “cockney” accent and the endless underground network...

The greasy “fish & chips” bought at any corner and generally eaten with bare hands...

The changing of the The Queen’s Life Guard at the Buckingham Palace gates...

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Bank employees drinking “pints” outside the pubs at 6:00pm.

The museums are also very popular –

sculpture by Henry Moore

Consumerism is another true cliche: in the street markets as Camden or in the super-luxurious Harrods or Selfridges...buying...buying...

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During my two years in London I saw a lot. I saw stupid things and funny things; I heard people from different places and ethnicities; I met wonderful people and the opposite, too. One day I caugth a deligtful dialogue between a scholarly old man and a moron lad.

This is the sketch I chose to tell you On the way to public transports. Today, a Portuguese language lesson to foreigners: a plastic bag with my lunch and a suitcase full of books...

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TRIANGULATING ‌ or a mix of friendship, work and leisure across the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

OCTOBER 1, 2013.

DEPARTURE FROM LISBON TO VIRACOPOS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CLOSER TO THE CITY OF CAMPINAS. HERE MOVED EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY FRIEND SUSANA, HER MATE CARLOS AND THE COUPLE’S TWO DAUGHTERS, MATILDE AND JULIA. TIRED OF DOING RESEARCH IN PRECARIOUS CONDITIONS AND BE OBLIGED TO SUBSTANTIATE IN DETAIL EVERY SINGLE STEP THAT PROVED IMPORTANT FOR THE PROGRESS OF HER WORK, SUSANA TURNED TO BRAZIL, HAVING ACHIEVED A POSITION AS PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF CAMPINAS (UNICAMP).

UNICAMP, Central library, 02.10.2013

For some time now I wake up in the morning with a feeling of happiness! The thing is: here, I don’t have to justify for being a social anthropologist or to apologize for that. ..

THE FIRST FEW DAYS ARE SPENT AT THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING SEMINARS, MEETINGS AND WALKS AROUND THE CAMPUS.

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DONE WITH OUR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, WE RELAX AT PRAÇA DO COCO [COCONUT SQUARE], WHERE MANY FAMILIES MEET ON WEEKENDS. WE SAT ON THE TERRACE WHILE JULIA PLAYS WITH SOME GUYS IN THE CHILDREN PLAYGROUND.

ON THE 6TH OF OCTOBER WE FLY TO RIO DE JANEIRO

I STAY IN A HOSTEL IN SANTA TERESA, A BUILDING IN ART NOUVEAU STYLE LOCATED ON JOAQUIM MURTINHO STREET, WHICH IS FURROWED BY THE TRAM RAILS.

IN THE HOSTEL I MEET INÊS, A PORTUGUESE BOSSA NOVA SINGER WHO IS ALSO VERSED IN ETHNOGRAPHY, WITH A THESIS ON THE IDENTITY USES OF SAMBA IN RIO DE JANEIRO.

In Portugal, I was sick of looking for work and never found anything. I came to Rio and found a job soon here in the hostel. But I want to do other things. My sister is here, too, making Erasmus.

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ALTHOUGH ONE ONLY SEES THEM FROM A DISTANCE, THE FAVELAS ARE UBIQUITOUS. THEIR NAMES ARE INSCRIBED IN THE HISTORY AND IN THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF RIO: ROCINHA, VIDIGAL, CATUMBI, SANTA MARTA, CANTAGALO, AND THE OLDEST OF ALL, THE ORIGINAL, 19TH CENTURY-FOUNDED, THERE ON THE MORRO DA PROVIDENCIA. I HEAR MANY STORIES OF MUGGINGS AND VIOLENT CLASHES, AS WELL AS ADVICE ON HOW TO WALK ON THE STREET, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY, BRINGING TO MIND AN OLD SONG OF CAETANO VELOSO...

I’VE BEEN ROBBED SEVEN TIMES ...

I’M IN RIO FOR A MONTH AND A HALF AND I’VE BEEN ROBBED THREE TIMES ...

LAST WEEK, THE CAR OF A FRIEND OF MINE WAS STOLEN. SHE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE WAS FORCED TO STOP AND GET OUT OF HER CAR BY THREE ARMED MEN

BUM BOY, FLOATING TENSION OF RIO, I SING TO GOD PROTECT YOU

PAO DE AÇUCAR, AS SEEN FROM URCA HILL, 11.10.2013

I MAKE A SECOND PUBLIC PRESENTATION ON 8 OCTOBER. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, I VISIT THE STUDIO OF THE INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BELELÉU IN COPACABANA, WHERE I MEET TIAGO AND ESTEVAO: WE EXCHANGE BOOKS, WE TALK, WE OUTLINE NEW EXCHANGES BETWEEN RIO DE JANEIRO AND LISBON. ON OCTOBER 10TH, I WAIT FOR MY WIFE ANA AT THE AIRPORT. THE REMAINING DAYS ARE DEDICATED TO SIGHTSEEING TOURS: WE CLIMB UP THE URCA HILL, CROSSING AN EXPANSE OF RAINFOREST INHABITED BY LITTLE MONKEYS AND LARGE LIZARDS TO THE SKI LIFT STATION WHICH LEADS TO THE PAO DE AÇUCAR HILL. THEN WE VISIT THE CORCOVADO, THE NAÏVE ART MUSEUM, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, THE BEACH OF IPANEMA...

Botanical Garden, 12.10.2013

IPANEMA BEACH, 12.10.2013

ON THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 12 WE MET MARTIN SILVA, PERUVIAN ILLUSTRATOR WITH A PASSION FOR SYMMETRY, WHO IS IN RIO DE JANEIRO TO COMPLETE A PH.D. IN PHYSICS. MARTIN LIVES WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND, CATALINA, AND WITH A FEW MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS IN A MODEST VILLA DOCKED BETWEEN MULTI-STOREY CONDOMINIUMS.

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AND THIS WAS A POSTER I MADE FOR A PERUVIAN PARTY

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OCTOBER 13: WE JUMPED TO BELO HORIZONTE AND HENCE FOLLOWED BY LAND TO OURO PRETO, A SMALL HISTORICAL CITY IN THE STATE OF MINAS GERAIS.

OURO PRETO, ALEIJADINHO STREET

OURO PRETO IS, FOR DECADES, A UNIVERSITY TOWN FULL OF STUDENT REPUBLICS AND ALSO A TOURIST CENTER WITH SOME IMPORTANCE DOMESTICALLY. IT HAS ANOTHER LIGHT, MORE CLEAR; ANOTHER AIR, MORE AIRY AND PURE; AND A DIFFERENT, MORE RESTFUL ENVIRONMENT (DESPITE THE STUDENT EUPHORIA). IN OURO PRETO’S QUIET STREETS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LET DOWN A FAT WALLET AND WAIT FOR FRIENDLY HANDS TO CATCH IT AND BRING IT BACK ...

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14 OCTOBER: WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE VILLAGE OF MARIANA, ALSO CONSTANT IN THE CIRCUIT OF THE OLD ROYAL ROAD. THIRTY MINUTES OF BUMPS, CLIMBS AND DESCENTS, ADVANCES AND RETREATS, DURING WHICH WE FEEL LIKE HAVING BEGUN TO ENTER IN THE INTERIOR OF BRAZIL. IN THE HISTORIC CENTER OF MARIANA, ANOTHER DOSE OF BAROQUE CHURCHES AND QUIET STREETS. BUT MARIANA IS FAR MORE PROFANE (AS NEMÉSIO NOTED) AND CROWDED THAN OURO PRETO, AND SEEMS TO EMPLOY A PART OF ITS INHABITANTS: ON THE WAY BACK, THE BUS IS FULL.

MARIANA, SAO PEDRO DOS CLERIGOS CHURCH, 14.10.2013.

15 O C T O B E R AMONG THE COINCIDENCES OF THIS TRIANGLE SHAPED CIRCUIT, IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THE ENCOUNTER WITH A FRENCH COUPLE WHO APPROACHES US WHILE I DRAW THE CHURCH OF NOSSA SENHORA DO PILAR (OURO PRETO), SHOWING INTEREST IN MY DRAFTS. THEY ARE THE PARENTS OF THE FRENCH CARTOONIST LAURENT BONNEAU AND ARE ALSO VISITING BRAZIL. THEY ARE ABOUT SIXTY YEARS OLD AND TRAVEL ON THEIR OWN, A LITTLE TO THE FLAVOR OF THE MOMENT, KEEPING ON A CERTAIN IDEAL OF ADVENTURE.

16 OCTOBER: AGAIN IN CAMPINAS, WHERE I DO MY THIRD PUBLIC PRESENTATION BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS.

LATER, AT THE HOME OF SUSANA AND CARLOS, WE WATCH A RECENT VIDEO FROM YOUTUBE, DISPLAYING THE ATTEMPTED THEFT OF A HORNET IN THE CITY OF SAO PAULO, AND CONSEQUENT BLEACHING OF ONE OF THE GUNMEN

BY AN UNDERCOVER AGENT THAT HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY. THE INJURED “BANDIDO” (A 18-YEAR OLD BOY) IS LEFT ON THE GROUND, SUFFERING, IN THE COMPANY OF THE DRIVER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND A FEW MORE CURIOUS PEOPLE WHILE THE AUTHOR OF THE SHOTS EXISTS THE SCENE, PRESUMABLY AFTER HAVING REPORTED THE OCCURRENCE (THE POLICE ARRIVES SHORTLY AFTER): ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES THAT REFLECT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE IN BRAZIL, DESPITE THE VERY STRONG TENDENCY TO TREAT IT IN MANICHAEAN TERMS.

ON OCTOBER 17TH, BUS TO THE BUS STATION TO THE CAMPINAS BUS LEAVES US, AFTER AN HOUR IN SÃO PAULO.

ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING “CASARÕES” [MANORS] ON PAULISTA AVENUE.

WE LEAVE IN THE MORNING, WE TAKE A OF BARAO GERALDO, THEN ANOTHER BUS TERMINAL AND THEN ANOTHER BUS THAT AND A HALF, IN THE TIETE BUS TERMINAL

WE SETTLE IN A POOR RESIDENTIAL WE DISCOVER BY ACCIDENT WHILE WALKING IN THE AREA OF PARAÍSO. THE OWNER IS AN OLD PORTUGUESE FROM POVOA DE VARZIM WHO EMIGRATED TO BRAZIL 50 YEARS AGO. UPON LEARNING OF THE PRESENCE OF PORTUGUESE GUESTS, HE COMES TO TALK TO US, ENDEAVOURING TO RESUME THE ACCENT OF OTHER TIMES. THE CITY OF SÃO PAULO IS BUSY, UNATTRACTIVE AND, ABOVE ALL, FORMIDABLE. IN TWO DAYS, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO KNOW AVENIDA PAULISTA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS (HIGIENÓPOLIS AND PINHEIROS), THE IBIRAPUERA PARK AND A COUPLE OF MUSEUMS.

IN SAO PAULO WE CONFIRM WHAT WE ALREADY SENSED IN RIO DE JANEIRO: IT IS TOO COMPLICATED TO MAKE TELEPHONE CALLS WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A CELL PHONE PREPARED FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE PHONE CARDS SOLD AT THE KIOSKS, WITH THEIR INEXTRICABLE SEQUENCE OF NUMBERS, SEEM TO REQUIRE SOME RITE OF PASSAGE TO BE USED. AND, IN THE ABSENCE OF PUBLIC BOOTHS WORKING WITH COINS, SKYPE IS THE LAST ALTERNATIVE...

OCTOBER 20, 2013: CAMPINAS, FOR THE THIRD AND LAST TIME, IN THE COMPANY OF SUSANA, CARLOS AND JULIA (MATILDE, AS A SELF-RESPECTING TEENAGER, IS BARELY NOTICED AMONG ADULTS). TOGETHER, WE MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE IN THE COUNTRY OF THE FUTURE.

1째 - BORING EUROPA

2째 - KASSUMAI

NEXT STOP: CONVENTO DA CARTUXA BY: FRANCISCO SOUSA LOBO

7 countries-11 cities-3 continents-10 authors reports of how was studying or working outside of portugal